Provenance

This drawing was bought (in 1936 according to the museum’s records) at the Fine Art Society by the current owner, Ulster Museum (no.864). Probably this drawing or FT523 is BP156, sold by Judith Merivale (1860–1945) to Squire Gallery in February 1935 for £14. BP156 was drawn on Italian paper of the same size as this drawing and had no date or title inscribed. The back of the drawing is inscribed “Louisa”, presumably indicating it was owned by Judith Merivale’s aunt, Louisa Ann Merivale (1819–85), who lived at Barton Place, or Louisa Buckingham (b.1850), sister of Emily Buckingham.

Comment

Two drawings of Ambleside, one dated 14 August, are similar in type to this one (FT479, FT518). If this is indeed of Stock Ghyll in Ambleside, Towne may have been aiming—with this view wholly comprised of natural elements—consciously to contrast it with his other views, which feature the inn and industrial buildings. Evidently this is, like those views, an evening view looking west. Alternatively, as the stream is quite wide, perhaps it is a view of the Rivers Brathay or Rothay on their approaches to Windermere lake.